Cigarette extinguisher



June 27, 1939. p c JR 2,164,082

CIGARETTE EXTINGUISHER I Filed June 1, 1938 5 50 ,INVENTOR.

aW/f 72?. PIE/marl:

A TTURNEYS.

Patented June 27, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to a cigarette extinguisher; and has for one of itscbjects the provision of meansiassociated with a rest for supporting a lighted cigarette to automatically extinguish the ignited end thereof when the same has burned back to a point into contact with a portion of the rest. I

Another object of the invention is to use :the heat of .a burning cigarette to cause flow of a fire-extinguishing medium into contact with the lighted end of the cigarette to extinguish the same.

Another object of the invention is to use the heat of a burning cigarette to cause flowcf water into contact with the lighted end to-quench the same.

Another object of the invention is to use the heat of a burning cigarette to regulate "the amount of liquid supplied to the extinguishing means.

Another object of the invention theprovision of a receptacle for receiving cigar or cigarette ashes and provided with liquid means adapted to be operated automatically by the heat from the ignited ends of the cigarettes for extinguishing cumulates within the container :due to the :heat

from theconsumed end of the cigarette in being burned back close to the support.

Another object of-the invention is to provide a device of this character "embodying a water reservoir and means for supporting a cigarette influenced by the heat from the burning end thereof to cause a slow flow of water from the reservoir into the portionof #the rest in contact with the lightedend of thecigarette to extinguish ,5 or quench the same. l

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this type which will'be relatively simple and reliable in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, andof such design .as to be-capable 50 of being made a part of or conveniently'applied to many of the ordinary ash tray structures in use. i

With these and other objects in view, the inventionconsists of certain novel features of con- ,55 struction, as will 'be rmore fully described, and

particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of oneembodiment of my invention showing an a'sh tray having mounted thereon a combined cigarette rest and extinguisher device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken centrally through the ash tray and cigarette extinguisherdevice shown in Fig. 1';

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the-combined cigarette rest and extinguisher device taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of combined cigarette rest and extinguisher device embodying the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1,1ooking in the directionof the arrows.

It is a well-known fact that a cigarette, after having been lighted and subsequently :laid'down V in the rest portion of an ashtray, will continue to burn fora substantial extent or until it has been consumed, in the course of which the cigarette is burned back towards its opposite end until the partially consumedend portion becomesxunstable and overbalanced and topples from the ash tray on the table or floor where it becomes an immediate source of danger sufiicient to ignite dry, inflammable or combustible materials and creating a very considerable fire hazard; and in order to obviate such a condition, I have provided a novel extinguishing device, including a cigarette rest, constructed and arranged so as to be influenced by the heat from the burning cigarette to release, discharge or cause flow of a fire extinguishing medium into the zone of the rest at portions thereof in contact with the ignited end of the cigarette for extinguishing or quenching the same when it has burned back into contact with a portion of the rest; and in order to accomplish this desirable result, I have provided a hollow container adapted to hold a fluid fire extinguishing medium, preferably a liquid such as water, although it is feasible to employ a deliquescent substance, such as calcium chloride, or a gas heavier than air, such as carbon dioxide, that could be released by heat to extinguish the cigarette in a similar manner; and I have provided a container for the fiuid medium having a recessed cover portion adapted to form a rest for a cigarette and provided with an opening communicating with the container for venting the extinguishing medium into the zone in contact with the burning end of the cigarette; and I have further constructed the cigarette supporting portions of the rest in direct contact with the cigarette of a material conductive of heat, whereby the heat from the burning end of the cigarette upon reaching the zone of the rest will be con ducted through the same to quickly heat and expand the air within the fluid container and also a portion of the rest, which together or separately causes pressure to be exerted on the surface of the extinguishing medium within the container sufiicient to expel the fluid extinguishing medium therefrom and discharge the same into the trough of the cigarette rest at portions thereof in proximity to or in contact with the lighted end of the cigarette for wetting the same to extinguish or quench the burning cigarette; and the following is a more detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention, illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished:

With reference to the drawing, Figs. 1 to 3 illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, wherein [0 generally designates the base of a common type of ash tray which is shown as being generally rectangular in shape having an open top and provided with upright side walls I2 and an integral bottom l3. The ash tray base Ill may be made of any convenient size or shape and cast or pressed from metal, or molded from glass, porcelain or various common plastic molding compositions as is well-known construction in the art. The side walls I2 are hollow and of generally inverted U-shaped cross-section, as shown in Fig. 2, and there is fixedly mounted on the top edge or rim portion of the ash tray in a convenient position thereon, as by soldering, one or more combined cigarette rest and extinguishing devices generally designated as l5 and constructed in accordance with my invention, as will be presently described.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the extinguishing device l5 comprises a semi-cylindrical member IS with end walls to provide a. hollow chamber, as indicated at IT, adapted to serve as a container for water or other suitable fluid l8 possessing properties incapable of supporting combustion. Fixed to the member I6 is a cover member 2|] having a concaved bottom 2| to provide a channel extending radially outwardly and inwardly with reference to the center of the base ll] of the ash tray to form a rest for horizontally supporting a lighted cigarette 22 with its partially consumed end portion directed inwardly in an overhanging relation above the ash receptacle.

As illustrated, the cover 20 may be made from sheet metal bent into semi-cylindrical form. A small central opening or aperture 25 extends through the concaved bottom of the cover member 20 and provides an orifice communicating with the hollow chamber H. A tube 4! extends downwardly from the opening 25. The water in the chamber is of a height to extend into the lower end of the tube 4! and close this orifice. The opening 25 is positioned adjacent the inwardly extended end portion 26 of the cover member 2|] but is set back therefrom a distance sufficient to provide a substantial area for reception of heat from the burning end 2'! of the lighted cigarette 22 upon burning back towards its opposite end so that the location of the consumed portion and the burning tobacco will be at the zone indicated at 28 between the opening 25 and the end 26 of the cover member. It will thus be apparent that the heat from the consumed portion of the lighted cigarette reaching the zone 28 will so warm up the portions of the rest in contact with the ignited end of the cigarette at this location that pressure internally 0f the container will be exerted on the surface of the water therein, due to expansion of the heated air in the portion of the chamber l1 above the surface of the water, and will force the water upwardly adjacent the opening from the container- I6 to be exuded and flow slowly through the vent opening 25 and allowed to escape into the channel of the cigarette rest in an amount sufiicient so as to wet and extinguish or quench the burning end of the cigarette.

The rest portion of the cover member 20, therefore, should have sufficient width and depth and be formed of a material having such heat conductivity that'the air inside of said chamber I! at either side thereof will be heated by the heat from the burning end 2'! of the cigarette in reaching the zone between said opening 25 and the proximate end of the rest and transmitted by conduction through the wall of the rest to warm the air in contact therewith within the chamber to create the pressure on the water to expel the same for performing the results intended. This ejectment of water may also be attributed to the expansion of the portion of the rest in proximity to the lighted end of the cigarette, the heat from which will cause suflicient change in shape or deflection of the heated portion of the rest by expansion of the material thereof to assist in producing pressure on the water to cause the same to be forced out of the container IS.

A removable plug 29 sealed by a suitable gasket and having screw threaded connection internally of a hole suitably formed in a wall in the member l6 affords a means for permitting filling of the same with the extinguishing fluid.

In Fig. 4 a slightly modified construction is shown which differs from that shown in Figs. 1 to 3 in that a well is provided for the extinguishing fluid, such as water, and is formed by a tube 30 attached at one end directly to the underside of the grooved rest member 3| and from which it extends vertically downwardly into the liquid 32 in the container 33, which is of generally U- shaped cross-section. In this construction. the upper end of the tube 30 communicates with a small vent opening 34 disposed centrally through the concaved bottom 35 of the rest member 3| while the lower end of said tube is spaced from and terminates short of the bottom of the container 33, thereby providing a vertical compartment in which a sufficient quantity of the water will be stored and available for discharge or release into the channel of the rest 3| irrespective of the level of the fluid in the container 33 when the portions of the rest 3| adjacent the opening 34 are heated by the burning portion of the cigarette to generate internal pressure within the container to force downwardly the water surrounding the tube 30 and to raise the water in the tube upwardly through the opening 34 until it is discharged into the groove of the rest 3| so as to wet and extinguish the cigarette. The tube 30 will be of capillary size and liquid may rise therein higher than the surrounding liquid. Filling of the container 33 may be accomplished by removal of a plug 36 having screw threaded connection with the bottom wall of the container.

In Figs. 1 and 5 I have shown associated with the bottom [3 of the ash tray structure, an additional device employing the principle of the present invention to be used for extinguishing the lighted end of a burning cigarette when the lighted tip thereof is placed into a heat communicating relation therewith, and this construction consists of a closed container 40 for the fire extinguishing fluid 4| and suitably attached to the bottom wall 13 of the receiver, as by solder 42. The top wall '43 of the container 40 is recessed to accommodate an end of a cigarette, and as shown is preferably of funnel-shaped formation having an end wall 44 provided with an aperture 45 through which the fluid 4| is expelled. Affixed to the underside of the wall 44 is a tube 46 which depends into the fire extinguishing liquid 4| and thus provides a well for holding the same from which the fluid is forced upwardly out through the aperture 45 into funnel 43 upon expansion of the air or heated by the material in contact with the lighted end of the cigarette when the same is introduced and held upright in place in the funnel.

An equally feasible method of practicing the invention is to use a deliquescent substance, which may comprise a salt, such as calcium chloride, in which instance, the hollow container I6 is partially filled with a quantity of the deliquescent substance to provide a bed of the material therein, the top surface of which preferably should be of a height so that water collected by it will be of a height sumcient to close the opening 25 in the bottom of the cover member 20. Since this substance possesses the inherent quality of taking on moisture from the air, the calcium chloride bed will dissolve gradually and become liquid by the slow absorption of moisture from the air entering the container through the opening 25. Thus, sufficient liquid will be accumulated within the container l6 and sealing the opening 25 to be exuded therefrom by expansion of the air inside the container in becoming warmed by heat from the burning cigarette.

From the foregoing it will be seen that according to the present invention a novel'form of extinguisher device for the lighted ends of cigarettes is provided that is simple, compact and of neat appearance, and very effective in performing the functions of a receptacle for receiving the ashes of cigarettes and a rest for supporting a lighted cigarette and for extinguishing automatically the ignited ends thereof.

It will also be apparent that the structure which I have provided in the devices of Figs. 1 to 4 is one by which the lighted cigarette will not be wet on being placed in the rest until heat from the burning end reaches the holder portion. In the use of these structures, I have further observed that after the liquid has come in contact with the paper of the cigarette, the cigarette adheres to the rest so that it cannot fall off of its own accord.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a cigarette extinguisher, a member provided with a chamber adapted to contain a fire extinguishing medium, a heat conductive cover on said member provided with a channel adapted to form a rest for a lighted cigarette in which the ignited end thereof may rest horizontally, and found with an orifice communicating with said container to allow discharge of a quantity of the extinguishing medium into the rest and in contact with the burning end of a lighted cigarette, in response to pressure set up within said chamber due to heat from the lighted end of the cigarette, and in 'amount sufficient for extinguishing the cigarette.

2. In a cigarette extinguisher, a member provided with a chamber adapted to contain water,

7 is partially filled with water to a point level with said orifice, to allow a quantity of water to be forced upwardly and discharged through said orifice into the rest and in contact with the burning end of a lighted cigarette in an amount sufficient to extinguish the same when pressure is exerted upon the water within said chamber due to heat from the lighted end of the cigarette.

3. A combined cigarette rest and extinguisher comprising in combination, a container having a chamber for holding a quantity of fire extinguishing liquid, a cover member on said container arranged to close the same and provided with a channel adapted to form a rest for supporting a cigarette in which the burning end may rest with the consumed end horizontal, said cover having an opening through the wall of the channel set back from an end of the rest and communicating with said container and sealed by the liquid therein when said chamber is partially filled with the liquid to a point level with said opening, said channel of the rest portion of said cover being constructed of sufficient width and depth to provide an air space between the cover and the surface of the liquid'when the same seals said opening, said cover being formed of a material having such heat conductivity that the air confined inside of said chamber will be heated quickly by the heat from the burning end of a lighted cigarette when the latter is burned back close to the zone between said opening and the proximate end of the rest and will force a quantity of the extinguishing liquid upwardly through lsaid opening into said channel of the rest, upon expansion of the heated air within the chamber, and into contact with the lighted end of the cigarette in an amount sufficient, to extinguish the same.

4. In a cigarette extinguisher, a member provided with a chamber adapted to contain a fire extinguishing liquid, a heat conductive cover on said member provided with a channel adapted to form a rest for a cigarette and an opening through the wall of said channel communicating with said chamber, and an open-ended tubular member extending downwardly from said opening into the liquid in said chamber to secure a uniform supply of the fireextinguishing liquid so that it may be forced upwardly through said opening in response to pressure Within said-chamber due to heat from the lighted cigarette and discharged into the channel of said rest at portions thereof in. contact with the burning end of a cigarette to extinguish the same.

5. In a cigarette extinguisher, a member provided with a chamber adapted to contain water, a heat conductive cover on said member provided with a channel adapted to form a rest for a cigarette and an opening through the wall of said channel communicating with said chamber and sealed by the water therein, and an open-ended tubular member extending downwardly from said opening into the liquid in said chamber to secure a uniform supply of the water so that it may be forced upwardly through said opening in response to pressure within said chamber due to heat from the lighted cigarette and discharged into the channel of said rest at portions thereof in contact with the burning end of a cigarette to extinguish the same.

6. In combination with a tray member having an open top, side walls and a bottom for receiving the ashes of cigars or cigarettes, of a member mounted on the rim of at least one side wall and provided with a chamber adapted to contain water, a heat conductive cover on said member provided with a concaved portion adapted to form a rest for supporting a cigarette and formed with an opening communicating with said chamber and sealed by the water therein when said chamber is partially filled with water to a point level with said opening, said cover being shaped to provide an air space within the chamber above the surface of the water when the same seals said opening so that water may be expelled therefrom into the rest in response to pressure generated within the chamber upon expansion of air confined therein heated from the lighted end of the cigarette by conduction of heat therefrom through the concaved wall portion of the rest whereby a quantity of water will be discharged in the vicinity of the burning end of the cigarette and into contact therewith in amount sufiicient to extinguish the same.

'7. A cigarette extinguisher comprising a hollow closed member adapted to form a container for holding a quantity of a fire extinguishing liquid and provided with a top portion formed with an orifice through its wall communicating with said chamber and sealed by the fire extinguishing liquid therein when said container is partially filled with the liquid to a point level With said orifice, said top portion of the container in the vicinity of said orifice being formed of a material readily conductive of heat and the under side of said top portion being shaped to provide an air space within the container above the surface of the fire extinguishing liquid when the same is level with said orifice so that air confined in said space upon expansion, due to heat from the lighted end of a. cigarette when the latter is brought in contact with the top portion of the container in proximity to said orifice, will exert pressure upon the liquid to expel a quantity of the fire extinguishing liquid from the container through the orifice into contact with the burning end of the cigarette in amount suflicient to extinguish the cigarette.

.8. A cigarette extinguisher comprising a hollow closed member adapted to form a container for holding water and provided with a top portion formed with an orifice through its wall communicating with said chamber and sealed by the water therein when said container is partially filled with water to a point level with said orifice, said top portion of the container being formed of a material readily conductive of heat and shaped to form at its outer surface a rest for supporting a lighted cigarette and to provide beneath its inner surface an air space within the container above the surface of the water when the same is level with said orifice so that air confined in said space upon expansion, due to quantity of water from the container through the orifice into contact with the burning end of the cigarette in amount sufiicient to extinguish the cigarette.

ALBERT R. PIERCE, JR. 

